Baz Luhrmann’s 2008 epic drama Australia, which starred Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, has been reworked as a television series titled Faraway Downs.
Set in the remote Northern Territory, the original film explores love and war, the ordeal of the Stolen Generations, and building a family from the unlikeliest of places, during the darkest of times.
Ahead of its streaming premiere, here’s everything you need to know about Baz Luhrmann’s groundbreaking project – revisiting a movie released 15 years ago to re-edit and turn into a miniseries!
What’s in this Guide?
Where to watch Faraway Downs?
Faraway Downs is a re-imagining of the movie Australia, a six-part series premiering on Disney Plus.
The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox during release, while 20th Television is the studio behind the TV series version. Both owned by The Walt Disney Company, it’s a Disney+ exclusive in Australia.
| TV show | Streaming | Available? |
|---|---|---|
| Faraway Downs | Disney Plus | Yes – with Disney+ subscription |
Faraway Downs release date
Revisit the epic drama starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman in this “six-chapter reimagining” on Sunday, 26 November 2023.
What’s more, you won’t need to wait for new episodes each week as all six of them will be released on Disney Plus at once.
| Season 1 | Release Dates | Streaming Service |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Sun, 26 Nov 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 2 | Sun, 26 Nov 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 3 | Sun, 26 Nov 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 4 | Sun, 26 Nov 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 5 | Sun, 26 Nov 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 6 | Sun, 26 Nov 2023 | Disney Plus |
Watch Faraway Downs on Disney Plus
You can only watch episodes of Baz Luhrmann’s latest project on Disney Plus. To start streaming, new customers can choose between the monthly and the yearly plan. It’s worth noting that their free trial is no longer offered, although there are occasional Disney Plus offers that new customers can use.
Offering a single-tier plan, there’s no need to pick more expensive plans to stream on devices concurrently – Disney Plus allows streaming on up to four screens for $13.99 per month, or $139.99 if you prefer pre-paying for a year in exchange for some savings.
You can also watch the original film, Australia, on Disney Plus.
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What is Faraway Downs about?
The series follows the same plot as the movie’s, except it has been re-edited to become a six-part story with an alternate ending. There’s also going to be additional footage that fans haven’t seen before, just enough to serialise the film.
Before World War II, English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) travels to Australia to convince her husband to sell his cattle ranch. When he dies before her arrival, she enlists the help of drover, also called “The Drover” (Jackman), to protect her property from the scheming eyes of a cattle baron.
Lady Sarah eventually warms up to her new home, sparking romance with The Drover and taking care of Nullah, a bi-racial Indigenous Australian child she ultimately regards as her own. Together, they experience the joy of family for the first time, all while reeling from the devastating effects of the war in Northern Australia.
The new series originally debuted on the closing night of the inaugural SXSW Sydney Screen Festival last 21 October 2023, later becoming available for a wider release through Disney Plus.
Faraway Downs trailer
You can watch the official trailer for the brand new series right here.
Cast of Faraway Downs
Like Australia, the cast of Faraway Downs comprises Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Bryan Brown (as King Carney), Brandon Walters (as Nullah), and Ben Mendelsohn (as Captain Dutton).
Here, we’ve listed the complete cast of Baz Luhrmann’s new series:
Similar shows to Faraway Downs you might like
The Disney Plus library offers a wide range of the best shows on television and the latest blockbusters, which you can explore by checking out what’s on Disney Plus.
If you enjoy watching romantic period dramas, you’ll probably enjoy similar shows on streaming, including Sanditon, Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, The Buccaneers, Outlander, and many more.
Alternatively, you can use the streaming search bar below to explore more TV shows and movies.
